Massaging device



Sept. 23, 1941. A.. s. TJADEN 2,255,534

MASSAGING DEVICE lFiled Feb. 26, 1940 5g l /7 5 l /Lfx 5 ZADEA/ Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED' STATESv PATENT OFFICE MASSAGING DEVICE Alex S. Tjaden, Edna, Tex.

Application February 2.6, 1940, Serial No. 320,745

1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-63) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a massaging device.

An object of this invention'is to provide a new and improved massaging device wherein the patient is cradled so that the massaging is done beneath the patient when the patient is in a relaxed position.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved massaging device wherein the massaging is done beneath the patient while the patient is in a relaxed position and the stroke of the massaging element may be quickly and easily changed and varied.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for vibrating and massaging -the body while it is in a reclining or relaxed position, said massaging being accomplished by a cradle which is suspended from points above the patient.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be' hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a massaging device constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of said device,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the supporting bearing for the crank arm,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the adjusting arm constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional vicw taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 3.

In the drawing, the numeral I designates an upstanding frame. Said frame is provided with a plurality of legs Il, having rollers I2 on their lower ends whereby said frame may be easily moved about. The frame is substantially rectangular in cross-section, and has a raised or offset platform I3 provided on its top. It is pointed out that said platform is terminated short of one of the longitudinal edges of said frame. A motor Ill is suitably mounted on the platform I3, and is provided with a pulley I mounted upon one end of the shaft I5 of said motor. An elongated shaft I6 is mounted transversely of the frame at one side of said motor,

threaded, vertical openings 32.

and is suitably held to said platform by a plurality of upstanding bearing blocks Il. A pulley I8 is mounted on said shaft and in alinement with the pulley I5 of the motor I4. A suitable belt I9, or any other suitable means, connects the two pulleys so that said shaft I6 may be rotated by said motor.

A circular eccentric disk is mounted upon one end of the shaft I6. Said disk is securely attached to the shaft I6. The disk 2Il is provided with an elongated, diametrical, dovetail groove 2l. t is pointed out that in the drawing, said groove has been shown as disposed diametrically of said disk. However, any suitable arrangement of said groove may be used. A bolt 22 has its head 23 formed square and dovetailed so as to have a sliding t within the groove 2l. The bolt projects laterally from the disk so as to form a crank arm. The outer end of Athe shank 25 of the bolt 22 is provided with external screw threads 24.

An elongated arm 26 is pivotably mounted on the -top of the frame below the platform I3, but adjacent to the disk 20. A pivot pin 2l is provided in the central portion of said arm, and is supported by a pair of bearing blocks 28 so that the ends of said arm are free to swing in a vertical arc. The outer portion of one end of the arm is enlarged at 29 to form a crosshead, said crosshead being provided with an elongated reduced portion 30. It is pointed out that said reduced portion extends longitudinally of the enlarged portion 29 of the arm. Lugs 3l extend upwardly above the reduced portion at each end thereof, thereby providing stops at each end of the reduced portion. Said lugs have their upper surfaces formed in a horizontal plane and are provided with internally screw- The bottom of the reduced portion 30 i's provided with a longitudinal groove 33. A block 34 covers the reduced portion 30, and is attached to said crosshead by bolts 35 which engage the screw-threaded openings 32. The block 34 has its central portion 36 reduced so as to mate with the reduced portion 3l). The reduced portion 36 is provided with a longitudinal groove 3l in vertical alinement with the groove 33. Thus the reduced portions 3B and 36 form an elongated opening 38 in the crosshead.

A bearing block 39 has a sliding t within the opening 38; said block being provided with tongues 4B on opposite sides thereof, which' ride within the groves 33 and 3l, thus allowing said' block to slide within the opening 33, but posithrough the medium 'of the belt IQQ The disk-.20

tively holding said block within said opening. A central, circular, transverse opening 4| is provided in said bearing block, and receives the shank 25 of the crank arm 22 provided on the eccentric disk 20. Surrounding the shank 25,

is a sleeve Y42 which has one end abutting the,

of the arm 26 and pivotably depends from said arm. A belt 45 has each of its endsf connectedV to one of said links, and hangs loosely therefrom, thereby forming a cradle so that a "patient .may lie upon a table or other suitable support A46, Iand the .belt-45 willunderlie said patient. `As

may Vreadily be seen in the drawing, the frame Hl straddles said table and may be moved up- Wardly and downwardly over thetable, so that different portions ofthe patients body maybe massaged. A control (not shown)Y fcroperating the device may be placed on top of the device or under the same, so that a person may give himselfa treatment. It is pointed out thata cover (not shown) may bepla-ced over the motor or overthe'entire upper portion of said device.

VThe cradle formed by the belt j45 is an important feature of this invention. The belt may be formed with any Width desirable. proximately sikteen incheswidev has been found to be very satisfactory,l since it is sufciently wide to cover a majority of the large surfaces of a patients body. However, it is repeated, that any In the operation, vthe motor i4 is started, thereby rotating the pulley i8 and the Yshaft IE which is'connected tothe outer endof said shaft A suitable nut 43 engages A belt ap-V desirable width belt may be utilized toy advantage.

will also be rotated.l The operator moves the .43

crank arm 22 along the dovetailed grooveliso has to obtainfthe desired strokeupon the cradle 45.` In other words, if'the crank arm is placed near 'the 'center ofthe disk 2B, it will produce a fast vibrating strokeV of small amplitude. However,'ijf'thesameis'placed at either end of the groove, 'the'devi'ce will Yproduce along, or large amplitude, vibrating stroke. Y

'As the crank 'arm is carried around with the disk in an eccentric motion, and the bearings 4|, it will rotate within the bearing block 39, thereby causing the block to move in a similar eccentric motion. The tongues 40 of said bearing block will ride Within the grooves 3| and 3l of the crosshead 29 as the block moves back and forth in the opening 38. Thus the tongues 4D keep said bearing block in alinement at all times by allowing the same to slide within the yopening 38. It is pointed out that when the crank arm has been placed so as to produce the desired stroke, the nut 43', provided on the outer end of the shank 25 of the crank arm, is tightened, so that the sleeve 42 will bear against the surface of the disk 20 and the under side of said nut.

ing a massaging treatment to a patient who will Y nbe lying within the cradle'forrned by the belt 45.

Various changes, alterations and modifications may be made in the siize,fshape and arrangement of the herein described elements, within the scope of the yappended claim.

What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

In avportable massaging device, the combination of an elevated platform, legs supporting said platform, an elongateuarmv plv-oted intermediate itsends ontheplatforrn, a Vbearing connection at one `end of the arm having an elongate opening, a vbearing block mounted to slide in the 'opening ofthe connection, a disk journaled on VVthe platform and having a dovetail groove eX- 'tending diametrically across one side, a bolt adjustably conned in the groove of the disk and `'fastened therein, the bolt being -pivotally connected to the sliding block, links each pivotecl at one end to opposite ends ofthe arm, and a massaging belt pivoted at its ends to the links, whereby it Yhangs in alcun.

ALEX s. TJADEN.

Thus, as said' nut is screwed upon said' shank, it will pull the enlarged head 23 up against theinclined surfaces of the groove, and securely 

